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UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2016: Paper 2 (CSAT) - UPSC MCQ


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30 Questions MCQ Test - UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2016: Paper 2 (CSAT)

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UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2016: Paper 2 (CSAT) - Question 1

Accountability, or the lack of it, in governance generally, and civil services, in particular, is a major factor underlying the deficiencies in governance and public administration. Designing an effective framework for accountability has been a key element of the reform agenda. A fundamental issue is whether civil services should be accountable to the political executive of the day or to society at large. In other words, how should internal and external accountability be reconciled? Internal accountability is sought to be achieved by internal performance monitoring, official supervision by bodies like the —Central-Vigilance Commission-andComptroller and Auditor—General, and judicial review of executive decisions. Articles 311 and 312 of the Indian Constitution provide job security and safeguards to the civil services, especially the All India Services. The framers of the Constitution had envisaged that provision of these safeguards would result in a civil service that is not totally subservient to the political executive but will have the strength to function in larger public interest. The need to balance internal and external accountability is thus built into the Constitution. The issue is where to draw the line. Over the years, the emphasis seems to have tilted in favour of greater internal accountability of the civil services to the political leaders of the day who in turn are expected to be externally accountable to the society at large through the election process. This system for seeking accountability to Society has not worked out, and has led to several adverse consequences for governance.
Some special measures can be considered for improving accountability in civil services.
Provisions of articles 311 and 312 should be reviewed and laws and regulations framed to ensure external accountability of civil services. The proposed Civil Services Bill seeks to address some of these requirements. The respective roles of professional civil services and the political executive should he defined so that professional managerial functions and management of civil services are depoliticized. For this purpose, effective statutory civil service boards should be created at the centre and in the states. Decentralization and devolution of authority to bring government and decision making closer to the people also helps to enhance accountability.

 

Q. According to the passage, which of the following factor/factors led to the adverse consequences for governance/public administration?

1. Inability of civil services to strike a balance between internal and external accountabilities 

2. Lack of sufficient professional training to the officers of All India Services

3. Lack of proper service benefits in civil services

4. Lack of Constitutional provisions to define the respective roles of professional civil services vis-a-vis political executive in this context

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

Detailed Solution for UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2016: Paper 2 (CSAT) - Question 1

Accountability, or the lack of it, in governance generally, and civil services, in particular, is a major factor underlying the deficiencies in governance and public administration. Designing an effective framework for accountability has been a key element of the reform agenda. A fundamental issue is whether civil services should be accountable to the political executive of the day or to society at large.
The respective roles of professional civil services and the political executive should be defined so that professional managerial functions and management of civil services are depoliticized. For this purpose, effective statutory civil service boards should be created at the centre and in the states. Decentralization and devolution of authority to bring government and decision making closer to the people also helps to enhance accountability.
 

UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2016: Paper 2 (CSAT) - Question 2

Accountability, or the lack of it, in governance generally, and civil services, in particular, is a major factor underlying the deficiencies in governance and public administration. Designing an effective framework for accountability has been a key element of the reform agenda. A fundamental issue is whether civil services should be accountable to the political executive of the day or to society at large. In other words, how should internal and external accountability be reconciled? Internal accountability is sought to be achieved by internal performance monitoring, official supervision by bodies like the —Central-Vigilance Commission-andComptroller and Auditor—General, and judicial review of executive decisions. Articles 311 and 312 of the Indian Constitution provide job security and safeguards to the civil services, especially the All India Services. The framers of the Constitution had envisaged that provision of these safeguards would result in a civil service that is not totally subservient to the political executive but will have the strength to function in larger public interest. The need to balance internal and external accountability is thus built into the Constitution. The issue is where to draw the line. Over the years, the emphasis seems to have tilted in favour of greater internal accountability of the civil services to the political leaders of the day who in turn are expected to be externally accountable to the society at large through the election process. This system for seeking accountability to Society has not worked out, and has led to several adverse consequences for governance.
Some special measures can be considered for improving accountability in civil services.
Provisions of articles 311 and 312 should be reviewed and laws and regulations framed to ensure external accountability of civil services. The proposed Civil Services Bill seeks to address some of these requirements. The respective roles of professional civil services and the political executive should he defined so that professional managerial functions and management of civil services are depoliticized. For this purpose, effective statutory civil service boards should be created at the centre and in the states. Decentralization and devolution of authority to bring government and decision making closer to the people also helps to enhance accountability.

 

Q. With reference to the passage, the following assumptions have been made :

1. Political executive is an obstacle to the accountability of the civil services to the society

2. In the present framework of Indian polity, the political executive is no longer accountable to the society Which of these assumptions is/are valid?

Detailed Solution for UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2016: Paper 2 (CSAT) - Question 2

Political executive is an obstacle to the accountability of the civil services to the society. Accountability, or the lack of it, in governance generally, and civil services, in particular, is a major factor underlying the deficiencies in governance and public administration. Designing an effective framework for accountability has been a key element of the reform agenda. A fundamental issue is whether civil services should be accountable to the political executive of the day or to society at large.

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UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2016: Paper 2 (CSAT) - Question 3

Accountability, or the lack of it, in governance generally, and civil services, in particular, is a major factor underlying the deficiencies in governance and public administration. Designing an effective framework for accountability has been a key element of the reform agenda. A fundamental issue is whether civil services should be accountable to the political executive of the day or to society at large. In other words, how should internal and external accountability be reconciled? Internal accountability is sought to be achieved by internal performance monitoring, official supervision by bodies like the —Central-Vigilance Commission-andComptroller and Auditor—General, and judicial review of executive decisions. Articles 311 and 312 of the Indian Constitution provide job security and safeguards to the civil services, especially the All India Services. The framers of the Constitution had envisaged that provision of these safeguards would result in a civil service that is not totally subservient to the political executive but will have the strength to function in larger public interest. The need to balance internal and external accountability is thus built into the Constitution. The issue is where to draw the line. Over the years, the emphasis seems to have tilted in favour of greater internal accountability of the civil services to the political leaders of the day who in turn are expected to be externally accountable to the society at large through the election process. This system for seeking accountability to Society has not worked out, and has led to several adverse consequences for governance.
Some special measures can be considered for improving accountability in civil services.
Provisions of articles 311 and 312 should be reviewed and laws and regulations framed to ensure external accountability of civil services. The proposed Civil Services Bill seeks to address some of these requirements. The respective roles of professional civil services and the political executive should he defined so that professional managerial functions and management of civil services are depoliticized. For this purpose, effective statutory civil service boards should be created at the centre and in the states. Decentralization and devolution of authority to bring government and decision making closer to the people also helps to enhance accountability.

 

Q. Which one of the following is the essential message implied by this passage?

UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2016: Paper 2 (CSAT) - Question 4

Accountability, or the lack of it, in governance generally, and civil services, in particular, is a major factor underlying the deficiencies in governance and public administration. Designing an effective framework for accountability has been a key element of the reform agenda. A fundamental issue is whether civil services should be accountable to the political executive of the day or to society at large. In other words, how should internal and external accountability be reconciled? Internal accountability is sought to be achieved by internal performance monitoring, official supervision by bodies like the —Central-Vigilance Commission-andComptroller and Auditor—General, and judicial review of executive decisions. Articles 311 and 312 of the Indian Constitution provide job security and safeguards to the civil services, especially the All India Services. The framers of the Constitution had envisaged that provision of these safeguards would result in a civil service that is not totally subservient to the political executive but will have the strength to function in larger public interest. The need to balance internal and external accountability is thus built into the Constitution. The issue is where to draw the line. Over the years, the emphasis seems to have tilted in favour of greater internal accountability of the civil services to the political leaders of the day who in turn are expected to be externally accountable to the society at large through the election process. This system for seeking accountability to Society has not worked out, and has led to several adverse consequences for governance.
Some special measures can be considered for improving accountability in civil services.
Provisions of articles 311 and 312 should be reviewed and laws and regulations framed to ensure external accountability of civil services. The proposed Civil Services Bill seeks to address some of these requirements. The respective roles of professional civil services and the political executive should he defined so that professional managerial functions and management of civil services are depoliticized. For this purpose, effective statutory civil service boards should be created at the centre and in the states. Decentralization and devolution of authority to bring government and decision making closer to the people also helps to enhance accountability.

 

Q. According to the passage, which one of the following is not a means of enhancing internal accountability of civil services?

UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2016: Paper 2 (CSAT) - Question 5

In general, religious traditions stress our duty to god, or to some universal ethical principle. Our duties to one another derive from these. The religious concept of rights is primarily derived from our relationship to this divinity or principle and the implication it has on our other relationships. This correspondence between rights and duties is critical to any further understanding of justice. But, for justice to be practiced; rights and duties cannot remain formal abstraction. They must be grounded in a community (common unity) bound together by a sense of common union (communion). Even as a personal virtue, this solidarity is essential to the practice and understanding of justice.

 

Q. With reference to the passage, the following assumptions have been made :

1. Human relationships are derived from their religious traditions

2. Human beings can be duty bound only if they believe in god

3. Religious traditions are essential to practic

Detailed Solution for UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2016: Paper 2 (CSAT) - Question 5

The religious concept of rights is primarily derived from our relationship to this divinity or principle and the implication it has on our other relationships. This correspondence between rights and duties is critical to any further understanding of justice. But, for justice to be practiced; rights and duties cannot remain formal abstraction. Hence, the correct answer is Option A.
 

UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2016: Paper 2 (CSAT) - Question 6

In general, religious traditions stress our duty to god, or to some universal ethical principle. Our duties to one another derive from these. The religious concept of rights is primarily derived from our relationship to this divinity or principle and the implication it has on our other relationships. This correspondence between rights and duties is critical to any further understanding of justice. But, for justice to be practiced; rights and duties cannot remain formal abstraction. They must be grounded in a community (common unity) bound together by a sense of common union (communion). Even as a personal virtue, this solidarity is essential to the practice and understanding of justice.

 

Q. Which one of the following is the crux of this passage?

UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2016: Paper 2 (CSAT) - Question 7

A ate grapes and pineapple; B ate grapes and oranges; C ate oranges, pineapple and apple; D ate grapes, apple and pineapple. After taking fruits, B and C fell sick.
In the light of the above facts, it can be said that the cause of sickness was:

UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2016: Paper 2 (CSAT) - Question 8

Consider the following statements.

1. The rate of population growth is increasing in the country

2. The death rate is declining faster in the country compared to birth rate

3. The birth rate is declining faster in the country compared to death rate

4. Rural-urban migration is taking place regularly in the country

Which one of the following conclusions may be true in the light of the above facts?

UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2016: Paper 2 (CSAT) - Question 9

A person X was driving in a place where all roads ran either north-south or eastwest, forming a grid. Roads are at a distance of 1 km from each other in a parallel.
He started at the intersection of two roads, drove 3 km north, 3 km west and 4 km south. Which further route could bring him back to his starting point, if the same route is not repeated?

Detailed Solution for UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2016: Paper 2 (CSAT) - Question 9


X starts from point A, passes through point B and C and reaches point D. X returns from point D, passes through point E and reaches point A back.
Hence, the correct answer is Option B.
 

UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2016: Paper 2 (CSAT) - Question 10

Consider the following statement: “We shall go either for a picnic or for trekking”.
Which of the following, if true, would falsify this claim?

UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2016: Paper 2 (CSAT) - Question 11

There were 50 faculty member comprising 30 males and the rest females. No male faculty member knew music, but many of the female faculty members did.
The Head of the institution invited six faculty members to a tea party by draw of lots. At the party it was discovered that no members knew music. The conclusion is that:

Detailed Solution for UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2016: Paper 2 (CSAT) - Question 11

Question does not say anything about the gender composition  of the group invited for the party. Further, we don't know which specific female faculty know music. So either all in the party were males, or some males and some females who did not know music were present in the party. So (d) is definitely correct.

UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2016: Paper 2 (CSAT) - Question 12

Five people A, B, C, D and E are seated about a round table. Every chair is spaced equidistant from adjacent chairs.

(i) C is seated next to A

(ii) A is seated two seats from D

(iii) B is not seated next to A On the basis of above information, which of the following must be true?

1. D is seated next to B

2. E is seated next to A

3. D and C are separated by two seats

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Detailed Solution for UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2016: Paper 2 (CSAT) - Question 12

(b) The arrangement is in circular table C is seated next to A Conclusion : AC – or CA 

C is seated two seats from D 
Conclusion : A – D or D – A B is not seated next to A 
Conclusion : E must be next to A 
Combining, A C D B E 

(There can be many arrangements) So, only statement 1 and 2 are correct.
Hence, Option B.
 

UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2016: Paper 2 (CSAT) - Question 13

There are five hobby clubs in a college —photography, yachting, chess, electronics and gardening. The gardening group meets every second day, the electronics group meets every third day, the chess group meets every fourth day, the yachting group meets every fifth day and the photography group meets every sixth day. How many times do all the five groups meet on the same day within 180 days?

Detailed Solution for UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2016: Paper 2 (CSAT) - Question 13

Take the LCM. of 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 = 60 
So every 60th day all five hobby clubs meet. So in a period of 180 days they meet thrice i.e. on 60th, 120th and 180th day.
Hence, Option D.
 

UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2016: Paper 2 (CSAT) - Question 14

There are some nectar-filled flowers on a tree and some bees are hovering on it. If one bee lands on each flower, one bee will be left out. If two bees land on each flower, one flower will be left out. The number of flowers and bees respectively are:

Detailed Solution for UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2016: Paper 2 (CSAT) - Question 14

Let the number of bees = x 
Then the number of flowes = (x - 1) 
If the number of bees sitting on each flower is 2, number of flowers is (x / 2 + 1) 
⇒ (x / 2 + 1) = (x - 1) 
⇒  x - x / 2 = 2 
⇒ x / 2 = 2 
⇒ x = 4 
Therefore, number of bees is 4 and the number of flowers is
(4 - 1) i.e. 3.
 

UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2016: Paper 2 (CSAT) - Question 15

There are five persons in a group — P, Q, R, S and T. The group has one doctor, one lawyer and one artist. P and S are unmarried students. T is a man married to one of the group members. Q is the brother of P and is neither doctor nor artist. R is not doctor.

 

Q. Who is the doctor?

UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2016: Paper 2 (CSAT) - Question 16

There are five persons in a group — P, Q, R, S and T. The group has one doctor, one lawyer and one artist. P and S are unmarried students. T is a man married to one of the group members. Q is the brother of P and is neither doctor nor artist. R is not doctor.

 

Q. Who is the artist?

Detailed Solution for UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2016: Paper 2 (CSAT) - Question 16
P and S are unmarried students (hence not professionals), T a married man (so there is a female in this group), Q is brother of P, R is not a doctor. Q is neither a doctor nor an artist, so he must be a lawyer. R must be an Artist, so T should be a doctor (because P and S are students).
UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2016: Paper 2 (CSAT) - Question 17

There are five persons in a group — P, Q, R, S and T. The group has one doctor, one lawyer and one artist. P and S are unmarried students. T is a man married to one of the group members. Q is the brother of P and is neither doctor nor artist. R is not doctor.

 

Q. Who is the spouse of R?

UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2016: Paper 2 (CSAT) - Question 18

There are five persons in a group — P, Q, R, S and T. The group has one doctor, one lawyer and one artist. P and S are unmarried students. T is a man married to one of the group members. Q is the brother of P and is neither doctor nor artist. R is not doctor.

 

Q. Who is the lawyer?

UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2016: Paper 2 (CSAT) - Question 19

There are five persons in a group — P, Q, R, S and T. The group has one doctor, one lawyer and one artist. P and S are unmarried students. T is a man married to one of the group members. Q is the brother of P and is neither doctor nor artist. R is not doctor.

 

Q. Who of the following is definitely a man?

UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2016: Paper 2 (CSAT) - Question 20

There are five persons in a group — P, Q, R, S and T. The group has one doctor, one lawyer and one artist. P and S are unmarried students. T is a man married to one of the group members. Q is the brother of P and is neither doctor nor artist. R is not doctor.

 

Q. There is an order of 19000 quantity of a particular product from a customer.
The firm produces 1000 quantity of that product per day out of which 5% are unfit for sale. In how many days will the order be completed?

UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2016: Paper 2 (CSAT) - Question 21

​Biomass as fuel for power, heat, and transport has the highest mitigation potential of all renewable sources. It comes from agriculture and forest residues as well as from energy crops.

The biggest challenge in using biomass residues is a long-term reliable supply delivered to the power plant at reasonable costs; the key problems are logistical constraints and the costs of fuel collection. Energy crops, if not managed properly, compete with food production and may have undesirable impacts on food prices. Biomass production is also sensitive to the physical impacts of a changing climate.

Projections of the future role of biomass are probably overestimated, given the limits to the sustainable biomass supply, unless breakthrough technologies substantially increase productivity. Climate-energy models project that biomass use could increase nearly four-fold to around 150 — 200 exajoules, almost a quarter of world primary energy in 2050. However the maximum sustainable technical potential of biomass resources (both residues and energy crops) without disruption of food and forest resources ranges from 80 — 170 exajoules a year by 2050, and only part of this is realistically and economically feasible. In addition, some climate models rely on biomass-based carbon capture and storage, an unproven technology, to achieve negative emissions and to buy some time during the first half of the century.

Some liquid biofuels such as corn-based ethanol, mainly for transport, may aggravate rather than ameliorate carbon emissions on a life-cycle basis. Second generation biofuels, based on ligno-cellulosic feedstocks — such as straw, bagasse, grass and wood — hold the promise of sustainable production that is high-yielding and emit low levels of greenhouse gases, but these are still in the R & D stage.

 

Q. What is/are the present constraint/constraints in using biomass as fuel for power generation?

1. Lack of sustainable supply of biomass

2. Biomass production competes with food production

3. Bio-energy may not always be low carbon on a life-cycle basis

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2016: Paper 2 (CSAT) - Question 22

​Biomass as fuel for power, heat, and transport has the highest mitigation potential of all renewable sources. It comes from agriculture and forest residues as well as from energy crops.

The biggest challenge in using biomass residues is a long-term reliable supply delivered to the power plant at reasonable costs; the key problems are logistical constraints and the costs of fuel collection. Energy crops, if not managed properly, compete with food production and may have undesirable impacts on food prices. Biomass production is also sensitive to the physical impacts of a changing climate.

Projections of the future role of biomass are probably overestimated, given the limits to the sustainable biomass supply, unless breakthrough technologies substantially increase productivity. Climate-energy models project that biomass use could increase nearly four-fold to around 150 — 200 exajoules, almost a quarter of world primary energy in 2050. However the maximum sustainable technical potential of biomass resources (both residues and energy crops) without disruption of food and forest resources ranges from 80 — 170 exajoules a year by 2050, and only part of this is realistically and economically feasible. In addition, some climate models rely on biomass-based carbon capture and storage, an unproven technology, to achieve negative emissions and to buy some time during the first half of the century.

Some liquid biofuels such as corn-based ethanol, mainly for transport, may aggravate rather than ameliorate carbon emissions on a life-cycle basis. Second generation biofuels, based on ligno-cellulosic feedstocks — such as straw, bagasse, grass and wood — hold the promise of sustainable production that is high-yielding and emit low levels of greenhouse gases, but these are still in the R & D stage.

 

Q.  Which of the following can lead to food security problem?

1. Using agricultural and forest residues as feedstock for power generation

2. Using biomass for carbon capture and storage

3. Promoting the cultivation of energy crops Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Detailed Solution for UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2016: Paper 2 (CSAT) - Question 22

The correct option is Option B.
Biofuels and biofuel crops have been vaunted by politicians, journalists and scientists for years. A method of producing fuel from plants or other sources could potentially allow us to decrease our dependence on fossil fuels. Energy crops, so-called, include wheat, corn, soybean and sugarcane.
Rapid growth in biofuel production will continue to influence food prices and this in turn will have an impact on food security. In addition, higher transport costs increased the costs of imported food affecting even further countries with a high dependence on imported petroleum products and cereals.
 

UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2016: Paper 2 (CSAT) - Question 23

​Biomass as fuel for power, heat, and transport has the highest mitigation potential of all renewable sources. It comes from agriculture and forest residues as well as from energy crops.

The biggest challenge in using biomass residues is a long-term reliable supply delivered to the power plant at reasonable costs; the key problems are logistical constraints and the costs of fuel collection. Energy crops, if not managed properly, compete with food production and may have undesirable impacts on food prices. Biomass production is also sensitive to the physical impacts of a changing climate.

Projections of the future role of biomass are probably overestimated, given the limits to the sustainable biomass supply, unless breakthrough technologies substantially increase productivity. Climate-energy models project that biomass use could increase nearly four-fold to around 150 — 200 exajoules, almost a quarter of world primary energy in 2050. However the maximum sustainable technical potential of biomass resources (both residues and energy crops) without disruption of food and forest resources ranges from 80 — 170 exajoules a year by 2050, and only part of this is realistically and economically feasible. In addition, some climate models rely on biomass-based carbon capture and storage, an unproven technology, to achieve negative emissions and to buy some time during the first half of the century.

Some liquid biofuels such as corn-based ethanol, mainly for transport, may aggravate rather than ameliorate carbon emissions on a life-cycle basis. Second generation biofuels, based on ligno-cellulosic feedstocks — such as straw, bagasse, grass and wood — hold the promise of sustainable production that is high-yielding and emit low levels of greenhouse gases, but these are still in the R & D stage.

 

Q.  In the context of using biomass, which of the following is/are the characteristic/characteristics of the sustainable production of biofuel?

1. Biomass as a fuel for power generation could meet all the primary energy requirements of the world by 2050

2. Biomass as a fuel for power generation does not necessarily disrupt food and forest resources

3. Biomass as a fuel for power generation could help in achieving negative emissions, given certain nascent technologies Select the correct answer using the code given below:

UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2016: Paper 2 (CSAT) - Question 24

​Biomass as fuel for power, heat, and transport has the highest mitigation potential of all renewable sources. It comes from agriculture and forest residues as well as from energy crops.

The biggest challenge in using biomass residues is a long-term reliable supply delivered to the power plant at reasonable costs; the key problems are logistical constraints and the costs of fuel collection. Energy crops, if not managed properly, compete with food production and may have undesirable impacts on food prices. Biomass production is also sensitive to the physical impacts of a changing climate.

Projections of the future role of biomass are probably overestimated, given the limits to the sustainable biomass supply, unless breakthrough technologies substantially increase productivity. Climate-energy models project that biomass use could increase nearly four-fold to around 150 — 200 exajoules, almost a quarter of world primary energy in 2050. However the maximum sustainable technical potential of biomass resources (both residues and energy crops) without disruption of food and forest resources ranges from 80 — 170 exajoules a year by 2050, and only part of this is realistically and economically feasible. In addition, some climate models rely on biomass-based carbon capture and storage, an unproven technology, to achieve negative emissions and to buy some time during the first half of the century.

Some liquid biofuels such as corn-based ethanol, mainly for transport, may aggravate rather than ameliorate carbon emissions on a life-cycle basis. Second generation biofuels, based on ligno-cellulosic feedstocks — such as straw, bagasse, grass and wood — hold the promise of sustainable production that is high-yielding and emit low levels of greenhouse gases, but these are still in the R & D stage.

 

Q. With reference to the passage, following assumptions have been made:

1. Some climate-energy models suggest that the use of biomass as a fuel for power generation helps in mitigating greenhouse gas emissions

2. It is not possible to use biomass as a fuel for power generation without disrupting food and forest resources

Which of these assumptions is/are valid?

UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2016: Paper 2 (CSAT) - Question 25

We are witnessing a dangerous dwindling of biodiversity in our food supply. The green revolution is a mixed blessing. Over time farmers have come to rely heavily on broadly adapted, high yield crops to the exclusion of varieties adapted to the local conditions. Mono-cropping vast fields with the same genetically uniform seeds helps boost yield and meet immediate hunger needs. Yet high-yield varieties are also genetically weaker crops that require expensive chemical fertilizers and toxic pesticides. In our focus on increasing the amount of food we produce today, we have accidentally put ourselves at risk for food shortages in future.


Q. Which among the following is the most logical and critical inference that can be made from the above passage?

UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2016: Paper 2 (CSAT) - Question 26

A class starts at 11:00 am and lasts till 2:27 pm. Four periods of equal duration are held during this interval. After every period, a rest of 5 minutes is given to the students. The exact duration of each period is:

Detailed Solution for UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2016: Paper 2 (CSAT) - Question 26

Class ends at 02:27 pm
So, duration of class = 3h 27min = 207 min 

There will be 4 periods.
After every period, there will be a 5 min break. Here, only 3 breaks will be taken as there are only 4 periods and end of 4th periodmeansend of the class.4th break is not needed to beconsidered.
So, duration of the periods = 207 – 3×5 = 192 min.

Time assigned to each period = 192/4 =48min.

UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2016: Paper 2 (CSAT) - Question 27

Four friends A, B, C and D need to cross a bridge. A maximum of two persons can cross it at a time. It is night and they just have one lamp. Persons that cross the bridge must carry the lamp to find the way. A pair must walk together at the speed of slower person. After crossing the bridge, the person having faster speed in the pair will return with the lamp each time to accompany another person in the group. Finally, the lamp has to be returned at the original place and the person who returns the lamp has to cross the bridge again without lamp. To cross the bridge, the time taken by them is as follows : A: 1 minute, B: 2 minutes, C: 7 minutes and D: 10 minutes. What is the total minimum time required by all the friends to cross the bridge?

Detailed Solution for UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2016: Paper 2 (CSAT) - Question 27

(a) Here, A takes the shortest time to cross the bridge i.e. 1 min. And, D takes 10 min, C takes 7 min and B takes 2 min to cross the bridge. So, 4 friends can cross the bridge in minimum time in the following ways. 1. A + B crossing and A returning : (2 + 1) min 2. A + C crossing and A returning : (7 + 1) min 3. A + D crossing and A returning : (10 + 1) min 4. A crossing the bridge for the lasttime : 1 min. Hence, total minimum time = 3 + 8 + 11 + 1 = 23 min.

UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2016: Paper 2 (CSAT) - Question 28

30g of sugar was mixed in 180 ml water in a vessel A, 40 g of sugar Was mixed in 280 ml of water in vessel B and 20 g of sugar was mixed in 100 ml of water in vessel C. The solution in vessel B is

UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2016: Paper 2 (CSAT) - Question 29

In aid of charity, every student in a class contributes as many rupees as the number of students in that class. With the additional contribution of Rs. 2 by one student only, the total collection is Rs. 443. Then how many students are there in the class?

Detailed Solution for UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2016: Paper 2 (CSAT) - Question 29

The correct answer is Option B.
X number of students denoted equal amount ie X × X rs
And Rs2 extra gives 443
So,
X² + 2 = 443
X² = 441
X = 21

UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2016: Paper 2 (CSAT) - Question 30

Anita’s mathematics test had 70 problems carrying equal marks i.e., 10 arithmetic, 30 algebra and 30 geometry. Although she answered 70% of the arithmetic, 40% of the algebra and 60% of the geometry problems correctly, she did not pass the test because she got less than 60% marks. The number of more questions she would have to answer correctly to earn a 60% passing marks is:

Detailed Solution for UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2016: Paper 2 (CSAT) - Question 30

(b) Questions correctly answered by Anita are as follows: Arithmetic – 70% of 10 = 7 
Algebra – 40% of 30 = 12 
Geometry – 60% of 30 = 18  
Total questions correctly answered = 7 + 12 + 18 = 37 
Anita had to attempt 60% of 70 questions i.e., 42 questions correctly to pass the test. 
Number of more questions required to be answered = 42 – 37 = 5
 

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